OCVarsity Kickoff 2017: The Register has put together its annual preview for the upcoming high school football season.

In the coming days we’ll have previews online of every team and league in Orange County, plus much more, including our O.C. Hot 150 rankings of the top players in the county.

EMPIRE LEAGUE
(OC Varsity’s rating is based on analysis of the team’s expected showing this season.)

CYPRESSLast season: 6-5 overall, 2-3 leagueOCVarsity rating: Has potential to be playoff teamScouting report: The Centurions’ strength is their passing attack with returning quarterback Alex Ashcraft and athletic wide receivers Dominique Thompson and Elias Rios. The 5-foot-9 Ashcraft is undersized but smart and a dual threat. Thompson is a dynamic standout, but the key for Cypress will be protecting Ashcraft, Centurions coach Rick Feldman said. Cypress can add defense to its to-do list. The Centurions’ unit was solid last season but allowed an average of 30.8 points in their lossesMust-see game: Cypress vs. Kennedy, Oct. 20

KENNEDYLast season: 5-6 overall, 2-3 leagueOCVarsity rating: Has potential to be playoff teamScouting report: A lot needs to go right for the Fighting Irish to reach the playoffs because depth is a concern. Kennedy coach Sean Clark said multiple players will be going both ways, so the team needs to stay healthy. But the Fighting Irish feature an excellent running back duo in Alonzo Pineda and Ray Aldapa. Min Ho Park (6-2, 285) is an outstanding lineman, but like Pineda and Aldapa, he’ll be playing both ways.Must-see game: Cypress vs. Kennedy, Oct. 20

PACIFICALast season: 6-5 overall, 3-2 leagueOCVarsity rating: Team to beatScouting report: The Mariners’ best chance to finally break through has arrived. Coach Vinnie Lopez returns the best senior trio in the league and one of the best in the county in QB Ben Jefferson, linebacker Isaak Togia and wide receiver Matt Moslenko. Jefferson is the top QB in the league and the highly-recruited Togia is the fiercest on defense. The Mariners also added four transfers from disbanded Brethren Christian and one from Buena Park. Pacifica’s early schedule could be telling, Lopez said. The Mariners open against two tough opponents – Trabuco Hills and Newport Harbor – that beat them last season. If Pacifica turns the tables quickly, the march toward its first league since 2007 will be on.Must-see game: Pacifica vs. Valencia, Nov. 3

TUSTINLast season: 9-3 overall, 4-1 leagueOCVarsity rating: Title contenderScouting report: Coach Myron Miller, 74, enters his second season in his comeback tour at Tustin with a team built for his style of ground-and-pound. He returns All-County running back KC Carr III, who erupted for almost 2,800 yards last season, and massive linemen/tight ends Sai Mikaio (6-0, 290) and Junior Aiono (6-3, 307). Miller said he would like to give Carr more support and find ways to feature transfer wideout Donald McKinney, brother of former Tustin star George Wilson. But Miller loves the ground game, so if the Tillers’ offense is humming, expect Carr to lead the way.Must-see game: Tustin vs. Valencia, Oct. 20

VALENCIALast season: 4-7 overall, 4-1 leagueOCVarsity rating: Should earn playoff spotScouting report: The Tigers took a wild path to a share of the league title last season and then fired coach Shawn Racobs in February. But new coach Jason Gray, a longtime assistant under Mike Marrujo, has taken steps that should bring Valencia more consistency. The biggest move was bringing back Marrujo as an assistant coach. Valencia also will retool by featuring Nathan Perez (6-2, 210), a fierce defensive end last season, more at running back. Valencia also is excited about linebacker Chase Chocek and Garrett Paine.Must-see game: Valencia vs. Tustin, Oct. 20.

WESTERNLast season: 2-7-1 overall, 0-5 leagueOCVarsity rating: Will struggle to win gamesScouting report: Pioneers coach Dan Davidson sees progress entering the third year of his rebuild. Western returns 19 starters and has some emerging standouts. He is most excited about sophomore twins Caine (6-0, 160) and Cassius Savage (6-2, 165), who play receiver and defensive back. Junior quarterback Anthony Munoz has made strides and he’ll team with productive senior receiver John Ojelabi. Western needs to improve on defense and its depth, but any improvements will build valuable momentum for its move next year to the Golden West League.Must-see game: Western vs. Kennedy, Nov. 3

Dan Albano has been a high school sports writer at The Orange County Register since 1993. He covers football and all the aquatics: boys and girls water polo and boys and girls swimming. Dan's passion for water sports has earned him the nickname, "Aqua Dan" in the newsroom and taken him to multiple U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and many USA water polo events as a reporter. He also writes about high school football recruiting, including The Register's annual FAB 15 teams that list the top high school football players in the Western U.S. before National Signing Day. He compiles the Hot 150 list of football players to watch in Orange County before each season. During football season, he also partners with Steve Fryer and Jonathan Khamis on OCVarsity.com's Gridiron Show and hosts a weekly podcast on Trinity League football. In 2015, Dan received the Bud Dwyer Jr. media award from the Southern California High School Football Coaches Association. Dan is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, where he worked at The Daily Titan as a news reporter, sports reporter, managing editor and opinion editor.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.